Ex-Gay Addresses Disney Board of Directors

SAN ANTONIO, March 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Greg Quinlan of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) addressed the corporate directors of the Walt Disney Company at its annual shareholders meeting and asked them to approve a resolution to include ex-gays in Disney's mandatory diversity training for employees.

"Disney's diversity training emphasizes gays, bisexuals, and transgenders, but fails to include ex-gays," explained Quinlan. "Ex-gays remain closeted because they are not protected by diversity policies. Employees who support the ex-gay community are also not welcome to express their views."

In response to the resolution asking for inclusion and diversity for the ex-gay community, Daryl Herrschaft, director of the workplace project at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, was quoted by Daily Finance as saying that the resolution is "wrongheaded." The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest gay rights organization.

"How can HRC demand gay equality when it refuses to extend equality to others?" asked Quinlan. "HRC demands that gays and transgenders be included in diversity policies, but belittles ex-gays who ask for the same rights that gays and transgenders enjoy. HRC says men can change their gender to become women, but refuses to acknowledge that men like me can change our sexual orientation from gay to straight."

Every year the HRC Foundation issues a Corporate Equality Index which rates companies on their equal treatment of gays and transgenders. HRC gave Disney a 100 rating, its highest score. HRC rated Disney on its nondiscrimination policy, diversity training, benefits, gay advertising, sponsoring gay events, and not undermining gay and transgender equality.

"Is it a conflict of interest for any corporation to donate money to HRC, which then rates those same corporations on corporate equality?" asked Quinlan.

"Disney's equality index score is -0- for ex-gays and their supporters. Disney should treat former homosexuals with the same respect and benefits its gives to homosexuals."

"Last week HRC celebrated the first gay marriages in Washington DC, our nation's capital. But there is one victory HRC did not celebrate. And that's the DC Superior Court's ruling that ex-gays are a legally protected class under the D.C. Human Rights Act."

"PFOX calls on HRC to issue public statements condemning hatred and discrimination against the ex-gay community. Human rights demand no less."